Color Change and Life History Observations of the SpiderGea Heptagon(Araneae: Araneidae)

[摘要] With the great interest in orb webs and their makers at the presenttime (Witt, et al, 1968; Witt, ed., 1969) any observations on websand habits of orb weavers of genera other than the ones (Araneus,Zygiella, ArgiopeandUloborus) used currently by experimentersare of interest.Although spiders of the genusGeaare widespread, with speciesin the subtropics and tropics around the world, no studies of lifehistory or careful web observations of any species ofGeahave beenmade. SinceGeais believed related to the much largerArgiope(Levi, 1968), it was of interest to see whetherGeaspecies havesimilar habits, as resting in the center of the web and building astabilimentum (a zigzag swatch of silk above and below the hub),and whether they made a similar eggcase. Levi (1968) reviews ourlimited knowledge ofGeaas follows: the web is vertical with a denseviscid spiral and apparently without a stabilimentum; it is probablymade in low vegetation and the spider drops from it when slightlydisturbed.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）